What Bansko Actually Needs

In this week’s Buzz:

• I want to renovate my kitchen. Any recommendations?

• Bansko Mayor wants town to become leading cycling destination

• Stolen car posted on the Bansko Notice Board found in Banya

• Between Three Mountains farming event this coming weekend

• How Nick chooses the main story for the Bansko Buzz every week

• Annual 3km charity run on Saturday

• Date set for Bansko Street Dogs’ Summer Sports Day event

Why a local “Bansko Circular” bus service could change the area for residents and tourists alike

A few people reached out after last week’s Buzz, questioning whether Bansko actually needs more playgrounds for children. And, to be honest, I agree with them. The local municipality has upgraded nearly all the town's playgrounds, so does it really need more in different parts of town? Probably not.

So what does Bansko really need then?

For me, it needs a reliable local bus service that runs from Bansko to Razlog, then to Banya, and then to Dobrinishte (or whichever route makes sense). This would be a bus running multiple times a day between 10am and 10pm, making it easier for people to get around to all of the main places in the local area.

If you’ve been in Bansko for a while (or you’ve visited often), you might know that a minibus runs twice a day between Bansko, Razlog, and Banya. Once in the morning and once late afternoon. It’s fairly reliable, a bit rickety, and at times a little bizarre (filling up with diesel at the petrol station, with a boatload of passengers while the driver has the engine running and is smoking a cigarette; yes, I was on that “bus” 🙃).

A regular local bus service (you could call it the Bansko Circular) would be a little different. It’d charge a nominal fee, say 2EUR per person and would run on a regular schedule. If in Bansko, it would head up Bulgaria Street, Todor Kableshkov (Christi's), Nayden Gerov (4D), then turn at Ginger’s, head down Pirin Street, then on Glazne Street past the river, and down to the petrol stations.

Now, I wouldn’t expect this to run all year round at first, but given the amount of tourists Bansko wants to attract during the summer months, I can see there being enough people to make it viable in the summer and then maybe run it at other times of the year once it’s proven popular/used enough. If it were run on a trial basis over the 8-10 weeks from the end of June to the middle of August, when the main events and festivals are on, and it were publicised, then the number of people (and the revenue) would provide a good amount of data to see whether it’s worth making permanent.

Would the local municipality do it? Maybe.

They’d undoubtedly face resistance from local taxis, which want people to pay overpriced fares, but having this bus service would “spread the wealth” by having tourists/residents spend money with local businesses in surrounding towns. It would also make it easier for older people, those who are less mobile, and others without cars, to get around the local area.

Some might say that there are already bus services (around 10 per day) between Bansko and Razlog, so why wouldn’t you just take one of those? That’s true, but I mean more than from town A’s bus station to town B’s bus station. Wouldn’t it be better to be picked up from Pirin 75 and be dropped off outside Sprinkles in Razlog centre? Or explore Dobrinishte for a morning coffee (having been dropped off in the centre), then head to a hot spring in Banya?

Also, lots of these regional buses have been very busy lately between Bansko and Blagoevgrad. The other week I saw this firsthand when the 7am bus to Sofia Central had an extra (smaller) bus just going to Blagoevgrad as the Sofia bus (coach, 50 seats) was full (and, yes, the one to Ovcha Kupel a few minutes earlier was also full). Low season. 🤷 

There’s also the point that after 6pm, there are no buses locally, so I think it’s worth the municipal council having a conversation about it.

Who would pay for it?

A good question. Even if the fare was 2EUR, it would probably need some subsidy/support from a government institution. That might involve a partnership between the Bansko and Razlog municipalities, followed by a company to run it. Which one? No idea. As long as they were reliable and kept to the schedule, I don’t think it matters much.

What do you think? Feel free to send a reply and share your thoughts.

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Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 66 New Posts, 💬 200 Comments, 👍️ 1,009 Reactions

Are Glasses Cheaper in Bulgaria?
Michael posted asking whether prescription glasses were cheaper in Bulgaria or whether it was best to buy online in the UK. See what people suggested.

Is There a Curtain Shop in Bansko?
Julie remembers there being a curtain shop in Bansko, but when she went there recently, it had closed down. See where people suggest she go now.

I Want to Renovate My Kitchen. Anyone have a Recommendation?
Vincent is looking to renovate his apartment kitchen and is seeking recommendations for a local contractor. There were a few suggestions.

Coming to Bansko in January and Want to Get Ahead of The Queues
Richard is coming to Bansko next January for ski season and wanted to know about the potential queue and when is best to get there. See what helpful information people posted.

Bansko & Beyond

Stolen car from Bansko found in Banya
This week, Violina posted on the Bansko Notice Board about her car being stolen outside of her home in Bansko. She’d mistakenly left the keys in the ignition. She reported the theft to the local police in Bansko and within 48 hours the car had been located: abandoned in a wooded area in Banya. Quick work by the police. Read more. [Translation required].

Bansko wants to be one of the leading cycling destinations in the Balkans
Stoycho Banenski, Bansko’s mayor, has said that over the next 2-3 years, he wants Bansko to become one of the leading destinations for cycling in the Balkans. Speaking to the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, he said the town and mountains offer many options for cycling, as well as mountain biking and cycling festivals/competitions. I guess he’ll need to sort out the “shepherd dog slalom” when you head out of town first though. Read more. [Translation required].

French national dies in Bansko hotel
This week, the police were called to the Riverside Hotel (near Billa on Glazne Street) to a man not moving and having a pool of blood around him. The police attended and concluded the man had died from a cut to his throat. Police are waiting for an autopsy to conclude whether the death was suicide. Read more [Translation required].

Bansko confirmed as host for two snowboarding competitions in 2027
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has confirmed that Bansko will host two snowboarding competitions next ski season: two parallel giant slaloms as part of the Alpine Snowboard World Cup on January 16th and 17th, 2027. Read more.

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• Bulgarian prime minister announces focus on lowering prices in the country

• Counterfeit pharmaceuticals found in Bulgarian drugs laboratory

• Bulgaria remains poorest in the European Union

• EU issues warning over energy crisis and price rises [Beehive members knew this would be coming after I shared information with them a few weeks ago]

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Events Next Week

Therapy Cards Session
On Tuesday (12th), at Harmonia in Razlog, learn about how to notice your intuition and follow it for the best outcome. You’ll learn how to spot your creative intuition depending on your mood, goals and environment. More info.

Bansko Dance Festival Weekend
On Friday (16th), Saturday (16th) and Sunday (17th), a weekend of dancing awaits you at the Bansko Dance Festival. Events during the day and evening, including Bachata, Salsa, and Kizomba, with instruction for all levels. More info.

Annual Charity Run by Local Rotary Club
On Saturday (16th), the local Razlog-Bansko Rotary Club will have their annual charity race to raise funds for a good cause. This year, it is for Operation Teddy Bear. This organisation supports young people who are considered at risk or deprived of parental care, helping them prepare for or qualify for work or university. Registration at 9.30am in front of the community center in Bansko. The run is 3km and the entrance fee is 5€. [Participants should be 18 years of age or over.] More info.

Karmic Law and Personality Evolution Workshop
On Saturday (16th) from 4pm to 6pm in Razlog, Yulia Savova will lead a workshop on intuition, inner awareness and creativity. Admission is free. More info. [Translation required].

Between Three Mountains Farming Event
On Saturday (16th) and Sunday (17th), the third annual farming event takes place near Razlog and Bansko at Bayova Borika (located here). There will be exhibitions of over 200 different equine animals, a tug-of-war tournament between heavy draft horses, and presentations (see photos from last year’s event here). The event will take place during the day. More info.

New Moon Gong Night at Lotus Life
On Saturday (16th) from 10pm at Lotus Life on Nayden Gerov Street, join for a deep sound journey to release resistance, embrace new beginnings, and celebrate the new moon. More info. [Translation required].

Save The Date: Bansko Street Dogs Annual Sports Day
The annual summer sports day by Bansko Street Dogs will take place on Saturday 25th of July. The details on timings and location are still being finalised, but it will probably be registration around 2/3pm on the ski road. Definitely a fun day for everyone!

Inside The Beehive🍯 

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Photo of the Week

Sunny days and snow-covered peaks.

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